This is my blade. My strength.
With a deep breath, Shiro activated his Sharingan, the three tomoe spinning as he focused all his senses on Kurozai.
"I'm not afraid of you anymore," he said, his voice steady.
Kurozai tilted his head, his smile widening. "Brave words from a boy about to die."
Without warning, Shiro burst forward with Shunpo, his Zanpakutō gleaming as he closed the distance between them in an instant. Their blades clashed with a deafening ring, sparks flying as their energies collided.
Shiro moved with newfound speed and precision, his blade cutting through the air with deadly intent. He attacked relentlessly, his Sharingan predicting Kurozai's movements and guiding his strikes. Every slash, thrust, and parry was executed with the precision of a master swordsman.
Yet, Kurozai remained unbothered.
The hollow deflected Shiro's strikes with ease, his own blade moving like a predator playing with its prey. Each block was followed by a counterstrike, and Shiro found himself barely dodging the razor-sharp edge of Kurozai's sword.
Their clash became a blur of motion, Shiro's agility and precision pitted against Kurozai's overwhelming strength and skill.
Desperate to turn the tide, Shiro leapt back and formed a single seal.
"Water Style: Water Shark Bullet!" he shouted.
A massive shark-shaped projectile formed from water, roaring as it surged toward Kurozai with immense force.
Kurozai laughed, raising his free hand. "Pathetic."
With a single swipe of his blade, he sliced through the water shark, dispersing it into harmless droplets.
Shiro clenched his teeth, sweat pouring down his face. He formed another seal.
"Lightning Style: Chidori!"
The crackling sound of lightning filled the air as Shiro's hand became enveloped in an intense, electrified glow. He charged forward, aiming directly for Kurozai's chest.
But Kurozai was faster.
Using Sonido, he vanished from Shiro's path, reappearing behind him. Before Shiro could react, Kurozai slashed across his back with a swift, brutal strike.
Pain exploded through Shiro's body as he stumbled forward, blood spraying from the deep wound. He turned, his Sharingan still active, but his vision blurred from the pain.
Kurozai smiled, his blade dripping with Shiro's blood. "Is this all the power you have? Disappointing."
Shiro's legs trembled, but he forced himself to stand. He raised his Zanpakutō, ignoring the searing pain in his chest.
Kurozai lunged at him, their blades clashing once more. This time, Kurozai's strength overwhelmed Shiro. Each strike pushed Shiro further back, his feet skidding across the ground as he struggled to keep up.
With a final, devastating lunge, Kurozai's blade found its mark, slashing diagonally across Shiro's chest.
Shiro gasped, blood dripping from his mouth as he fell to one knee. His Zanpakutō slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground.
He looked down at his chest, now drenched in blood, and his vision dimmed.
Kurozai loomed over him, his cruel smile never faltering. "You are nothing, Shiro. Your power is meaningless."
Shiro's mind raced, his thoughts a chaotic swirl of fear, anger, and desperation. His body screamed for him to give up, but a small spark of determination remained.
This isn't over yet.
Shiro slowly got back on his legs.
Shiro stood firm, his grip tight on his Zanpakutō, his breathing heavy and labored. Kurozai, a monstrous force of destruction, stood across from him, grinning like a predator. The hollow that Aizen had created was a being of unimaginable power—a twisted fusion of hollow and Shinigami, built to tear through any opponent in its path.
The battle between them had already tested the limits of Shiro's strength. Each swing of Kurozai's blade carried with it a force that shook the air, and every dodge felt like a near miss with death itself. Shiro had fought valiantly, using his Zanjutsu and speed to stay alive, but Kurozai's overwhelming power was starting to push him to his limits.
Shiro's heart raced in his chest, and sweat trickled down his brow as he tightened his grip on his sword. His body screamed in pain, but his mind remained sharp. Kurozai was relentless, his eyes burning with a twisted glee as he moved in for another strike.
Kurozai lunged forward, his blade slashing through the air with an unholy speed. Shiro barely managed to block the attack, the force of it driving him back several feet. The ground beneath his feet cracked with the impact, and the force of the blow sent a jolt of pain through his arms.
"You're weaker than I expected, Shiro," Kurozai taunted, his voice like a growl. "I thought a boy with such power would put up more of a fight."
Shiro gritted his teeth, his body still reeling from the previous blows. He refused to let Kurozai's words break his resolve. With a swift motion, Shiro executed a Shunpo, vanishing from Kurozai's sight for a brief moment.
But Kurozai's eyes followed him, his inhuman senses more than capable of tracking Shiro's movements. As Shiro reappeared to strike, Kurozai anticipated it, his own blade meeting Shiro's in a clash that sent a shockwave through the air. The collision rang out like the sound of thunder, a force that rattled both of them.
The battle was at a standstill, but Shiro knew he couldn't keep up this pace forever. He needed to end it—now. His mind raced with strategies, calculating the exact moment to strike. He could feel the weight of his injuries, his chest already bloodied from the earlier blows, but he refused to let his body betray him.
Then, as if by instinct, Shiro's mind surged with clarity. He wouldn't fight Kurozai head-on anymore. He needed to overwhelm him with technique—diversions, tricks, anything to throw Kurozai off balance.
In an instant, Shiro made his decision.
With a flash of speed, Shiro leapt backward, creating distance between them. As he landed, he began performing a series of hand signs, his fingers moving in a blur of precision.
Shadow Clone Jutsu.
In a flash, four clones appeared around him, each one mirroring his movements with perfect synchronization. They all stood poised, ready for action. Shiro's clones were not mere distractions—they were deadly in their own right, and each of them carried a unique technique to disorient and incapacitate the monstrous hollow.
The first clone, standing directly in front of Kurozai, raised its hands in a precise motion.
"Bakudō: Sai!"
A bolt of spiritual energy shot forth from the clone's outstretched hands, encircling Kurozai's limbs in binding chains of energy. The powerful Bakudō technique restricted Kurozai's movement, the energy tight and unyielding, leaving the hollow momentarily immobilized. The chains glowed with an ethereal light, a brilliant contrast to the darkness that surrounded them.
The second clone, positioned at Kurozai's right, moved in fluid motions, its hands raised with precise intent.
"Bakudō: Hainawa!"
The clone unleashed a whip-like rope of energy, the Bakudō technique designed to restrain and weaken its target. The glowing tendril lashed out, wrapping around Kurozai's neck and arms, tightening with each second, further constraining his movements. The hollow's snarls were muffled as it struggled against the spiritual chains, but they held fast.
The third clone, positioned at the left flank, thrust its hands forward, drawing deep on the energy within.
"Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!"
A wave of fire erupted from the clone, engulfing the battlefield in a fierce, blinding inferno. The flames were hot and uncontrollable, lashing out in all directions, consuming the air itself as they surged toward Kurozai. The hollow howled in frustration as the fire scorched its form, the flames licking at its skin and burning away its dark cloak. The intensity of the flames was overwhelming, making the air thick with smoke and ash.
Finally, the fourth clone, positioned behind Kurozai, raised its hands high, gathering an immense amount of chakra.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
A massive torrent of fire erupted from the clone, a massive wave of heat and destruction that surged toward Kurozai, the inferno towering like a tidal wave of flame. The fire consumed everything in its path, rushing at Kurozai from all directions.
The flames collided with the bound and struggling Kurozai, engulfing him in a storm of fire, smoke, and heat. The ground itself cracked under the pressure of the burning energy, and the once clear sky above became a haze of dark smoke.
As the smoke cleared, Kurozai stood, battered but far from defeated. His form was charred, his cloak in tatters, but his eyes burned with rage and fury.
But Shiro was not finished.
He had one final move, one last technique that would push him beyond his limits. His Sharingan spun to life, the red, swirling eyes filled with the weight of determination. Shiro felt the power surge within him, an electric current that coursed through his veins. The air crackled with energy as he gathered every ounce of his remaining Reiatsu into his hands.
"Lightning Style: Chidori!"
Shiro's hand crackled with raw, destructive energy as he launched himself forward, his speed unmatched, his movements blindingly fast. The lightning surged around him, forming a deadly spear of electrical energy. With a roar, Shiro thrust the Chidori directly at Kurozai's chest, aiming to pierce through the hollow's heart.
The attack struck Kurozai with the force of a thunderclap. The hollow's body was thrown back by the force of the impact, but the lightning continued to ravage its form, tearing through its body like a blade of pure energy. The air around them shimmered with the raw power of the Chidori, the battlefield filled with the crackle of electricity.
But Kurozai was not finished.
With a monstrous roar, Kurozai gathered his remaining strength, breaking free from the Bakudō chains that had held him. The hollow's body began to heal almost instantly, the charred flesh knitting back together as its malice and rage grew.
Shiro staggered, his body exhausted from the strain of using his most powerful attack. But he couldn't give up. Not now.
Kurozai, despite the damage, lunged at Shiro once more, his sword raised high. Shiro's eyes burned with the fierce light of determination as he prepared for the next clash. This fight wasn't over yet. He wasn't finished. He couldn't afford to be.
Just as Kurozai's sword was about to connect with Shiro, a sudden, overwhelming force gripped him. Like the last time, his world was violently ripped away, and in the blink of an eye, Shiro found himself yanked out of his inner world. His surroundings shifted, and he was back in his bed, drenched in sweat, heart pounding. The weight of exhaustion clung to him like a thick fog.
Shiro blinked in confusion, still dazed by the suddenness of the pull. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes as he glanced toward the window. The moon still hung high in the sky, casting pale light across the darkened landscape. It was still night.
He sighed heavily, feeling an overwhelming wave of frustration rise in his chest. He wanted to scream, to cry—his body and mind were aching, the weight of everything pressing down on him. But despite the storm within, he knew he couldn't let himself fall apart, not now. He was too exhausted, mentally and physically drained.
With a resigned groan, he lay back down, curling into the blankets as he shut his eyes. Sleep took him almost instantly, a fleeting escape from the chaos that had been consuming him.
Meanwhile, far from Shiro's quiet, restless slumber, Kurozai stood in the shadows, his chest heaving with frustration. The moment he had been so close to achieving—the moment he thought he had won—was stolen from him.
A low, guttural snort escaped his throat, a mix of irritation and disgust. His sharp, hollow eyes flickered in the darkness as his monstrous form shifted, his body still pulsing with raw, unrefined power. He had failed, but this wasn't over.
I'll get you next time, Shiro. There's no escaping it… In the end, it'll be me who takes the crown. And when I do, I will see you dead.
Kurozai's mind burned with that singular thought, a promise to himself and a curse to his prey. His hollow mask twisted with an eerie grin, its jagged edges gleaming like shards of broken glass.
And then, a voice—deep, primal, almost unrecognizable—rumbled from within him.
"SHIRO!!!"
Progress: 25.31%
Template: Madara Uchiha
[System Status]
Strength: 50
Endurance: 52
Speed: 48
Reiatsu Control: 51
Intelligence: 49
Battle Instinct: 53
[Abilities]
Sharingan (3nd Tomoe):
Enhanced tracking of fast movements, with greater accuracy.
Can cast basic genjutsu, manipulating the opponent's perception.
Can copy techniques such as Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Kidō with near-perfect accuracy, adapting them for personal use.
Hollow Detection: Sense the presence of
Hollows.
[Techniques Unlocked]
Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu
Shunpo
Byakurai
Shō
Reiatsu Strengthening
Moeru Danmaku
Water Style: Water Shark Bullet
Kaidō
Shadow Clone Jutsu
Bakudō: Sai
Bakudō: Hainawa
Wind Style: Gale Palm
Earth Style: Mud Wall
Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning
Summoning Jutsu to Kitsune's
Lightning Style: Chidori
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation
[ Shikai Release Progress]
Current Bond Level: 1%